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Site Update

Metalunderground.com Launches New Site Design

posted May 1, 2006 at 5:17 PM by deathbringer.  (26 Comments)

Today we've launched our new design in participation with the semi-annual CSS Reboot. As previously mentioned, the new design is not so different looking from the old one. It is more of a behind-the-scenes update, which will make life easier for building additional sections as well as allowing for multiple themes on metalunderground.com.

Time limitations resulted in not getting all the bells and whistles implemented, but now that I'm knee deep in the code I can continue to polish the site and implement these changes over the coming weeks. The largest visual change was to drop the redundant left side navigation and merge that space into a larger sidebar on the right. While that sidebar contains mostly ads on some pages, more relevant information will be placed there in the coming weeks as well. Other visual changes made include a revamped (touched up) logo, tabbed site navigation, a persistent search in the secondary navigation area (top right), greater line spacing for ease of reading, and removal of the "scribble" font. (A "classic" theme will return at a later date with the scribble font added back to the site for those who liked that look).

With these changes comes the possibility that the site may not function properly in a given browser (especially old ones), so please report any bugs to me via the contact form.

Look for some more visual enhancements and sidebar info throughout the week. Thanks for your patience and for reading my technical ramblings!

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26 Comments on "Metalunderground.com: Rebooted"

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Anonymous Reader
1. gytrash writes:

The type is smaller and harder to read now - at least viewed with Safari on the Mac. Could do with being at least a point size bigger for comfort...

# May 1, 2006 @ 7:04 PM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
jnsguts's avatar

Member

2. jnsguts writes:

tripped me out, thought my computer was f***in up. too soon to tell if i like it or not. HIMMM!!!!

# May 1, 2006 @ 7:33 PM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
psythe's avatar

Writer, Reviewer

3. psythe writes:

actually, I think I prefer the old style, but I heard tell I'd be able to switch between formats if I preferred one over the other, so if that's still the case, then that solves everything and I've no complaints at all.

# May 1, 2006 @ 10:16 PM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
deathbringer's avatar

Founder, owner & programmer

4. deathbringer writes:

I do see now that the text is a little smaller in Firefox and IE, although I can't see how big the difference is in Safari. I'm using a different unit of measurement, so it wasn't an obvious difference at first. The font sizes will be scalable, so I will make sure that happens sooner than later.

# May 1, 2006 @ 10:28 PM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
RememberMetal?'s avatar

Writer/Reviewer

5. RememberMetal? writes:

Looks just fine to me. I'm a creature of habbit so I'll probably doubletake everytime the site comes up for a couple weeks but it looks good.

# May 1, 2006 @ 10:29 PM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
bradispissed's avatar

Supporter

6. bradispissed writes:

i dig it...


it has a biggie size look to it

# May 1, 2006 @ 10:35 PM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
Anonymous Reader
7. Broken face writes:

Its gona take a bit of gettin used 2 but i like it

# May 2, 2006 @ 8:51 AM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
jnsguts's avatar

Member

8. jnsguts writes:

yeah, i'm used to it now. it' all good. HIMMM!!!!

# May 4, 2006 @ 12:38 AM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
metalthekid's avatar

Member

9. metalthekid writes:

the front page is waaaaaaaay too crammed, way too much stuff going on there. might need to tone that down a bit, but otherwise i like it.

# May 6, 2006 @ 2:33 AM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
RememberMetal?'s avatar

Writer/Reviewer

10. RememberMetal? writes:

Wow, looks even better now I think, busy maybe, but stronger composition on the home page now.

# May 6, 2006 @ 3:22 AM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
Anonymous Reader
11. brandedcfh420 writes:

BIGGER TEXT FONT..ITS WAY TOO SMALL...I CAN READ IT, BUT HAVE TO GET CLOSER TO SCREEN...

# May 6, 2006 @ 3:56 AM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
Anonymous Reader
12. the crusader writes:

that's a cool new design. it does have alot of fancy stuff. and the upcoming release section is a great idea. just right in the home page where it's supposed to be.

# May 6, 2006 @ 10:21 AM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
deathbringer's avatar

Founder, owner & programmer

13. deathbringer writes:

OK guys, I'll work on the font sizer next... shouldn't be difficult. It'll save your preferences to a cookie as well.

Anyone who thinks the home page is too crammed - what browser size/screen resolution are you running it? Does the photo placeholder take up too much space? I've tested it by sizing it down to the minimum width and it looks fine to me (less crammed than the old style at lower res). I still plan to differentiate the reviews/reports/interviews a bit more though.

# May 6, 2006 @ 2:17 PM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
RememberMetal?'s avatar

Writer/Reviewer

14. RememberMetal? writes:

Slightly smaller album images might be able to fit another full review picture so that theres more than 3 up at a time with just the text for the older reviews. I'm viewing the site in 1024x768 and it looks fine, much sharper image than before. Upcoming releases is perfect.

I'll post if I come up with anything else but it looks great to me.

# May 6, 2006 @ 3:26 PM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
Anonymous Reader
15. slayerhead writes:

i love the release section, its just what i needed... missing a few releases on there though...

zao - june 13
unearth - august 8
hatebreed - august 29
it dies today - sept 5
deftones - sept 12
lamb of god - august
slayer - ????

# May 6, 2006 @ 3:48 PM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
deathbringer's avatar

Founder, owner & programmer

16. deathbringer writes:

Yeah, we definitely need to get in the habit of updating release info... It's one more thing to try to keep up with.

# May 6, 2006 @ 5:38 PM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
metalthekid's avatar

Member

17. metalthekid writes:

I dont think that it is my resolution that is the problem i have with the clutterness of the homepage, it just seems to be a lot of different stuff to look at all at once. maybe if the new releases was in its own frame with its own scroll bar, that might clean it up a bit. but that might just be me

# May 6, 2006 @ 11:38 PM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
deathbringer's avatar

Founder, owner & programmer

18. deathbringer writes:

Yeah, it is a lot to look at, I know. But we're starting to have a lot more to offer than just news, and the home page is the place to get the overview of everything new on the site. I'm trying to keep it LESS busy than some major news sites like CNN and such, but at the same time, use a similar model.

I actually tried the scrollbar on the upcoming releases section and it only took up more room (horizintally) because of the presence of the scroll bar. This list is a sub-set of the upcoming releases and I'll have a "view all" link to go to a page with all upcoming releases we have listed shortly.

I hope to put a few more icons and thumbnail type graphics on the page to make it easier to identify the different areas, but that might take a little longer.

# May 7, 2006 @ 2:08 PM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
Anonymous Reader
19. ricky writes:

I like it the titles are a lot more acessable to me (it doesn't take too long to get my head round the scribble font) and I find scanning through the new section a lot easier

# May 7, 2006 @ 6:54 PM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
BLACKDOG's avatar

Supporter

20. BLACKDOG writes:

I CAN DIG IT !!!!

# May 7, 2006 @ 7:14 PM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
Acidbitch's avatar

Member

21. Acidbitch writes:

what is this called or where do i find it? um im not sure if this is it or what, i dont think so. I wanna see, it sounds really cool, this is like one of the only web sites that i go to, besides, google, or, ....that bout it. How come my "personal" space and "member" space isnt downloaded yet, is that because i havent found the new design yet?,

and deathbringer this sight is so fricken kick ass, man its what i need, thank you

# May 9, 2006 @ 12:47 PM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
Acidbitch's avatar

Member

22. Acidbitch writes:

anybody there?

# May 12, 2006 @ 11:20 AM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
deathbringer's avatar

Founder, owner & programmer

23. deathbringer writes:

What is what called? You can't view or edit member profiles yet. It's on my list to-do, but I am still tweaking some pages and adding a text-scaling feature since rolling out the new design.

# May 12, 2006 @ 1:47 PM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
Acidbitch's avatar

Member

24. Acidbitch writes:

the web site, specifically
thanx

# May 15, 2006 @ 10:37 AM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
Anonymous Reader
25. brad farrow writes:

hey check out deimos at myspace young band that rocks of old school. check it out and give them the support they already deserve. they really deserve and need a label to boost them where they need to be. rock on. sincerely;
bird

# May 21, 2006 @ 12:52 AM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address
Anonymous Reader
26. ****************.com writes:

sh** i love this site also i wrote the previous message mybad but they like this place rock

# May 21, 2006 @ 12:55 AM ET | IP Logged Reveal posts originating from the same IP address

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